Voting System
1. Which system of voting does Canada use?
Canada uses a first-past-the-post system. This means the candidate which wins the most
votes wins the election. They occur at federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal
levels. Canadian elections are governed by the Canada Elections Act.
2. What are some of the advantages of this system?
It is very simple and provides a clear choice for voters between two parties. It gives a
chance for popular independent candidates to win since they would just need to get the
most votes. This is a good change where normally political parties are chosen by families
and relatives. It also allows other opposing parties to have some seats, and provide
criticism. It would also make it harder for extremist parties to win since it would be hard
for them to get most of the votes.
3. What is one of the disadvantages or why are some people suggesting we look at changing
Canada's voting system?
Voters may feel like they have to vote for another candidate rather than their first choice,
just so that another more evil candidate doesn’t win. It could also make it so that even if
two candidates earn the same percentage of votes, one may win and the other won’t.
Since they don’t need 50 or more to win.
4. What is a majority government? How many votes does one need to secure for a majority
government to be formed? What's a minority government? How many votes are needed
to form a minority government? What does it mean to have a majority vs. minority
government? You should do this for both Provincial and Federal levels. Remember, if
you're using the internet, do not copy and paste. Use your own words. Use this video to
help https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G_ro-EhW4c
Majority government receives more than 50% of seats in the Ontario legislation. Minority
is when no one party has more than 50% of seats and the percentage of votes for a party
is less than 50%. To get a majority vote you need 170 seats. In a Majority government,
one party can decide what bills to pass. In a minority
government, parties will have to vote on bills and legislation
before they can be passed, and a majority of people have to agree
to pass the bill. Sometimes the leaders of two parties might form
a coalition.
I live in Essex riding.
My MP is Chris Lewis. He identifies with the conservative party. He was elected to represent the
riding of Essex in the House of Commons in the 2019 Federal Canadian Elections. Lewis was
named Shadow Minister for Labour after previously serving as Deputy Shadow Minister for
Labour under leader Erin O'Toole.
My MPP is Anthony Leardi. He identifies with the Progressive
Conservative party. He was elected to Ontario's Legislative
Assembly in the 2022 provincial election. He is a member of
Ontario's Progressive Conservative Party and represents the Essex
riding. He is the first Progressive Conservative member from the
region since 1959. Leardi formerly served as Deputy Mayor of
Amherstburg, Ontario.
I live in the LaSalle ward. The mayor of LaSalle is Crystal
Meloche. Crystal Meloche was chosen as the 7th Mayor of the
Town of LaSalle on October 24, 2022, since the incorporation of
the town in 1991. She was formally sworn in on November 22,
2022. She made history by becoming LaSalle's first female
mayor. Mayor Meloche spent two terms as a Councillor, first in
2010 and then in 2014. She was elected Deputy Mayor for the
third time on Council in 2018.
Works Cited
“Anthony Leardi.” Legislative Assembly of Ontario,
https://www.ola.org/en/members/all/anthony-leardi. Accessed 24 July 2024.
“Chris Lewis - Member of Parliament - Members of Parliament - House of Commons of
Canada.” Canada - House of Commons, https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/chris-
lewis(105120). Accessed 24 July 2024.
“First Past the Post - Advantages —.” ACE Electoral Knowledge Network,
https://aceproject.org/main/english/es/esd01a.htm. Accessed 24 July 2024.
“Mayor Crystal Meloche.” Town of LaSalle, https://www.lasalle.ca/en/town-hall/mayor-
crystal-meloche.aspx. Accessed 24 July 2024.
Natyshak, Taras. “Anthony Leardi.” Wikipedia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Leardi. Accessed 24 July 2024.
Ramsey, Tracey. “Chris Lewis (politician).” Wikipedia,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Lewis_(politician). Accessed 24 July 2024.
Testa, Robert. “The pros and cons of Canada's first- past-the-post electoral system -
Politics.” CDN, https://cpb-ca-c1.wpmucdn.com/myriverside.sd43.bc.ca/dist/a/42/files/
2019/05/Electoral-Systems-FPTP-vs-PR-1.pdf. Accessed 24 July 2024.
